Corrupt officials should be removed from SHCC: PMA

KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) recently held a press conference at the PMA House. The conference was addressed by Dr S M Qaisar Sajjad, the Secretary-General of the PMA Centre and Dr Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, the General Secretary of the PMA Karachi. Dr Qazi Wasiq, Treasurer, PMA Centre, Dr Ismail Memon, Joint Secretary, PMA Karachi and others were also present on occasion.

PMA demanded the Sindh government to remove officials from the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) who were allegedly involved in the harassment of doctors, corruption, as well as other malpractices.

Dr Qaisar Sajjad expressed deep concern over the current situation created by SHCC’s officials. He said that they were working beyond their mandates. He said some officials were involved in the harassment of qualified doctors, corruption, and various other malpractices.

He explained that the primary mandate of the SHCC was to improve the standard of healthcare facilities and eradicate quackery from the Sindh province. Unfortunately, some officials had been harassing the qualified doctors and were indirectly supporting quackery.

Secretary-General informed that around 200,000 quacks were still operating in the Sindh province out of which 80,000 are in Karachi. Despite these alarming statistics, no real action had been taken by the SHCC against them. He said that the PMA had received multiple complaints from all over Sindh addressing the misbehavior towards doctors by the directors, assistant directors, and other officials of the commission.

General Secretary said that the harassment and blackmailing of doctors by SHCC officials were unacceptable. He warned that doctors would not entertain notices or actions if the officials continue to work beyond their mandate and authority. He suggested that the SHCC should make public SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for minimum medical standards to be followed by healthcare facilities.

Joint Secretary informed that different branches of the PMA Sindh registered complaints against SHCC officials in the PMA executive meeting held recently at the PMA House in Karachi. They demanded the immediate restructuring of the SHCC and the removal of incompetent and corrupt officials on an urgent basis.